The Radiant Root – Dorktales Storytime's 100th Original Stories for Kids!

Redge stumbles upon a dazzling, magical plant—the Radiant Root—glowing with glittering leaves and capable of conjuring a feast of the imagination for 100 creatures. The only problem? It's deeply rooted in the Folktale Forest, and even the Hedge Witch, Zinnia Fig, can’t uproot it alone. Soon, friends from all over Once Upon a Time come together to use their strengths, spells and specialties to lift the Radiant Root. Will their teamwork turn into a triumphant night that will stay in their hearts forever?

We’re celebrating a magical milestone! This episode marks our 100th original story in the Dorktales Storytime podcast, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate it with you. It was Inspired by a listener suggestion from Grant. Thanks Grant! And thanks to all of you who come to visit us in the lands of Once Upon a Time. 

Episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/the-radiant-root/                

GRAB YOUR FREE PDF LIST of conversation questions for this kids’ story:
 https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/ep100freePDF 

PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS:  This episode is inspired by the classic fairytale, “The Giant Turnip” and it teaches the importance of collaboration, creativity, and community. Through the characters' efforts to unearth the magical root, the story demonstrates how everyone’s unique skills contribute to achieving a shared goal. Through their collective work, they earn a feast of their favorite foods, showing that inclusivity and teamwork make challenges easier and more enjoyable. The story also highlights gratitude and joy in friendships, reinforcing that meaningful things happen when we unite with kindness, enthusiasm, and shared purpose. (Aligns with CASEL Social and Emotional learning framework)

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS STORY about the community celebrations in Once Upon a Time, you may also like to listen to, EP80: Snow Time: https://jonincharacter.com/snow-time/ 

CREDITS: This episode has been a Jonincharacter production. Today’s story was written and produced by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermain

Check out our friends at Armchair Adventures, a join-in story podcast for kids: https://www.madebymortals.org/armchair-adventures/

Chapters

• 1:34 It's our 100th original story here in Once Upon a Time!
• 2:23 Redge encounters Zinnia Fig and the radiant root
• 5:40 Redge and Zinnia try to unearth the radiant root
• 9:02 The root is stuck so they gather their Folktale Forest Friends to help
• 12:48 Redge's epic speech inspires the crowd to begin
• 19:23 What a magnificent day!
• 20:21 Special message for our listeners
• 20:50 Credits and theme song

Transcript

JONATHAN CORMUR: Hello Dork Squad. I'm Jonathan Cormur and you're listening to Dorktales Storytime, the podcast for kids and their pop culture-loving grown-ups.

THEME SONG: It's a beautiful day for a story, adventure and glory, new friends and old ones too. It's an excellent day to get swept away in a tail, so let us regale you.

JONATHAN: Alright, I just need to move my favorite armchair over here by the fire…pour some hot chocolate…add a couple of marshmallows..a cozy blanket. (Sighs) Perfect!

Oh! Hello! I didn’t see you there! I’m so glad you made it! Today is a very special day, because I’m celebrating the fact that we’ve told 100 original stories here in Once Upon a Time! Well…more like 99…but I have a very special tale I’d like to share today to celebrate all of the adventures we’ve had together over the years. The inspiration for this story came from Grant, one of our listeners. Thanks, Grant!

So without further adieu! Our 100th story: Redge and the Radiant Root. 

Once upon a time, Redge was out for a walk and stumbled upon the Folktale Forest’s resident Hedge Witch, Zinnia Fig…

(The sounds of the outdoors)

ZINNIA: (Talking to herself) Perhaps if I spread a little pine cone dust and eucalyptus bark…

REDGE: (Whistling as if he is walking by) 

ZINNIA: (Talking to herself) OH! Or maybe spreading leaves from a quaking aspen tree! And I can cast my shaking earth spell to rattle it out of the ground? Hmm…

REDGE: (Continues whistling but stops suddenly as if he has heard Zinnia) Huh? 

ZINNIA: (Talking to herself) I just don’t know how to dig this up! 

REDGE: Oh! Zinnia! I thought I heard someone. 

ZINNIA: Hello, Reginald! 

REDGE: How are you do–WOAH! 

ZINNIA: Woah is correct, Reginald. 

REDGE: Wh-what is this? 
 
 ZINNIA: You mean this giant cluster of leaves and curling vines coming up from the ground and towering over us?

REDGE: Yyyyep.

ZINNIA: The ones that are glowing and glittering? Almost as tall as a tree? 

REDGE: Yep. They also seem to be…shifting into different shades of green every few moments!

ZINNIA: They are. 

REDGE: WOAH! What is this?

ZINNIA: This is a Radiant Root.  

JONATHAN: Redge had never heard of Radiant Roots. And never hearing about something from the Folktale Forest was a new experience for Redge - he’s used to knowing about everything. But the Radiant Root was a very rare and very magical plant. Zinna Fig’s “Field Notes from the Folktale Forest” says - 

ZINNIA: (As if she’s reading from her book) With its glowing and glittering leaves as large as a very big tree, Radiant Roots are a spectacular sight! Buried beneath the dirt is the root itself, a rainbow-colored plant that has many magical properties! 

JONATHAN: According to Zinnia, the Radiant Root is capable of creating a feast of the imagination for not five, not ten, but ONE HUNDRED creatures! 

Now, you might be wondering what that means….well…Redge was wondering too! 

REDGE: Whatever does “feast of the imagination” mean? It sounds intriguing! 

ZINNIA: You see, Reginald, anyone who joins a feast of the Radiant Root can imagine their favorite meal in all of the world, and that is what the Root will become! 

REDGE: Magical! 

ZINNIA: It is indeed! It makes for a marvelous dinner party. You can learn all about your friends and what meals bring them comfort or are passed down from their family members or that they think taste extra delicious but…

REDGE: First you have to dig it up. 

ZINNIA: Indeed, Reginald. 

REDGE: And it’s…

ZINNIA: MASSIVE! Yes. Yes indeed. I was hoping to find a way to unearth the magical root and throw a festive feast for the residents of the Folktale Forest! But none of my hedge witch powers seem like they will work! 

REDGE: When I was walking by, you said something about a tree…and rattling the root out of the ground? That sounded promising! 

ZINNIA: Ah yes! I’ve collected leaves from quaking aspen trees. When the leaves are on the tree, the wind blows through and they all shimmer and shake and make a beautiful rattling sound. I was thinking of spreading the leaves on the ground…

REDGE: And using your hedge witch magic! 

ZINNIA: Correct, Reginald! I would draw out their rattling properties…

REDGE: And make a quake! 

ZINNIA: Yes, a small earthquake that I would shoot through the dirt to loosen the root. Very good, Reginald! 

REDG: I think we ought to try it! 

ZINNIA: Will you help me? 

REDGE: Yes of course! I’ve always wanted to train with our resident hedge witch! I even have a witch’s hat for the occasion! 

ZINNIA: You also have some tap shoes, if I remember correctly? 

REDGE: Of course I have tap shoes! 

ZINNIA: Bring those as well, Reginald! We will need to dance and make a ruckus to help the earth shake! Oh and procure some cinnamon! 

REDGE: What is the cinnamon for? 

ZINNIA: For the apple cider I’m brewing in my magical teapot of course! Always have a tasty beverage on hand before casting a powerful spell, that’s your first hedge witch lesson! 

REDGE: Right! Got it! I’ll just shuffle off to buffalo and be back lickity-split!  

JONATHAN: Redge ran off to get his tap shoes, cinnamon, and of course, his hedge witch hat. When he returned to the root from his burrow, he helped Zinnia make a ring of leaves and twigs and practiced the perfect tap moves to get the ground shaking. After a quick break for some fresh apple cider–

REDGE: Deeeelicious! 

JONATHAN: The two hedgehogs began to cast their spell. 

ZINNIA: Are you ready for the incantation? 

REDGE: Tap shoes tied! Witch hat on! I’ve stretched and learned my incantation. Ready to go!  

ZINNIA: Then let us begin! 

(The sound of swirling magic)

Twist and stamp and move and shake,

Wiggle your tail like a rattlesnake. 

Spread the leaves of the aspen tree,

Make a quake that sets roots free!

REDGE:

Flap and flap and shuffle ball change!

Shake up this magic root so strange. 

When the root’s out of the ground, 

We’ll have good food to go around!

JONATHAN: Redge and Zinnia tapped and twirled and stamped and danced. The leaves sparkled and glowed, and seemed to sway to their tune. The ground began to shake, and critters nearby could feel the earth move. But sadly, it wasn’t enough. The Radiant Root didn’t budge. 

REDGE: Oh bother! 

ZINNIA: I agree! 

REDGE: The root is as stuck in the ground as ever! 

ZINNIA: I’ve been here all morning and it hasn’t budged. 

REDGE: Hmmm. Zinnia? 

ZINNIA: Yes, Reginald? 

REDGE: You said that Radiant Roots can feed 100 forest folk, right? 

ZINNIA: Easily! 

REDGE: What if we gathered them for the feast right now? 

ZINNIA: But the root is still in the ground! 

REDGE: Maybe we need all of our friends to come together and help us…uproot our meal! 

ZINNIA: Hmmm…get a group together to finish the job…all 100 of us stamping and dancing might shake the ground just enough…

REDGE: You got it! 

ZINNIA: And then with a little help from my magic we might be able to–

REDGE: Make the feast a reality after all!  

ZINNIA: I LOVE IT! 

REDGE: ME TOO! Let's get going! 

ZINNIA: You’re right we mustn't delay! We have a lot of critters to conjure!

JONATHAN: With a new plan in place, Redge and Zinnia went off into the Folktale Forest and beyond. They used Zinnia’s broom made from the finest spring onions to fly all around the land of Once Upon a Time, shouting about their dream of hosting a fanciful feast and asking for helping hands to make the dream come true.

They found Little Red and Granny–

LITTLE RED: La la la, la la la to the Radiant Root we go! 

REDGE: Woohoo! 

JONATHAN: They went to Glimmer Pond, and found the handy beaver named Glimmer herself, ready to help construct a solution–

GLIMMER: I’ll grab my tools, don’t ya know, and draw up some blueprints! 

ZINNIA: Marvelous! 

JONATHAN: They went over to Big Bad’s Den and asked for the wolf’s assistance.

BIG BAD: We’ll howl that root right out of the ground! 

REDGE: Here here! 

JONATHAN: They zoomed over to Legend Lake to gather some friends with mythic ideas, like Samuel Squatch-

SAMUEL: Maybe I can use my birdsong to keep spirits high! 

JONATHAN: And Lope. Jack A. Lope. 

JACK A. LOPE: My natural hopping skills and super spy technology will certainly be useful. 

JONATHAN: They even gathered friends from the biggest city in Once Upon a Time, Litropia! Like Redge’s cousin Rodge–

RODGE: Reporting for duty!

JONATHAN: And of course, Redge sought out his best buddy…

REDGE: Who are we missing…

ZINNIA: Hmm I’m not sure…

JONATHAN: (Clears throat) His very best friend in all the land…

REDGE: We’ve got Shrimp the Seagull, Cinderella and Rapunzel are here…

ZINNIA: Check and check and check! 

REDGE: Sherlock Nettlesbee and Wabbitson sniffed out the clues and knew this event was happening before we even knocked on their door… 

JONATHAN: (Clears throat more loudly) His greatest and most helpful friend ever…

ZINNIA: Is that everyone? It might be everyone…

REDGE: It might be–

JONATHAN: AHEM. 

REDGE: WAIT! I need to go get Jonathan! 

ZINNIA: Of course! 

JONATHAN: Phew! 

Redge came to knock on my door, and brought me to the gathering crowd. Everyone stared in awe at the root’s color changing leaves, unsure of where to begin. But Redge climbed to the top of one of the leaves, and called the crowd to attention. 

REDGE: Ahem! Critterfolk, fairies, witches, and wanderers! Thank you for gathering here in the Folktale Forest today! On a day that will go down in Once Upon a Time history! A day where we all come together to use our magic and our skills for a most noble and worthy cause. A glorious feast with friends! 

You know we love a good feast in these lands. 

(murmurs of agreement) 

We have so many friends here today. Archie the Hedgeknight! Isabella the Bear! Lugo the Bat! Alice came by from Wonderland and even brought the Cheshire Cat! You may only see his smile, but trust me, he’s here! Our tiniest friends from Scribbleton have come, and our most nocturnal ones too–like Hesper the Fairy of the Evening Star and her moth companion Vesper! I mean this is a star studded affair! 

I’m so grateful to adventure with all of you every day. To hear all of your stories and see all of your wondrous magic come to life. This old land of Once Upon a Time is so special because of each of you, and I know we can work together once again, with all of our own strengths, spells, and specialties, to make amazing things happen. 

So get ready to shake your tail feathers and boogie this beauty out of the ground! HUZZAH! 

JONATHAN: And with that speech, a great buzzing magic filled the air of the Folktale Forest! (the sound of swirling magic)The Radiant Root seemed to reply to the crowd, glowing brighter than ever and showering all of us with sparkles. We all began hooping and hollering!

The Branch Sisters, Once Upon a Time’s most famous bird band, gathered all of the musicians of the forest–Redge’s Band of Bremen, Olivia Crescendo, the Opera Singing Otter, and more. They all struck up a tune!

The performers that came from Gotta Dance Theater in Litropia kicked off a choreographed number led by the great choreographer, Bob Gosse (pronounced like Fosse with a G)–

BOB GOSSE: And a-five, a-six, a-seven and a-eight! Jazz hands! 

JONATHAN: And then everyone else followed along, singing and chanting and dancing around the Radiant Root. 

BIG BAD: AroooooOOOooo!! 

We’ll howl and dance and shake things up

From the Biggest Bad Wolf to the smallest pup! 

LITTLE RED: La la la! Round and round we go! 

REDGE: We’ll put on a spectacular show! 

SAM SQUATCH: We’ll sing our songs up to the sky! 

LUGO: We’ll flap and flip and make our magic fly! 

REDGE: Yes Lugo! 

JONATHAN: And when our song and dance is through, 

ZINNIA: The root will know just what to do!

JONATHAN: For many minutes we danced and sang, until suddenly, the Radiant Root stopped shining altogether. The entire forest went quiet, and all was still. The critterfolk and magic makers all looked to Zinnia and Redge in confusion. 

(Instrumental to the theme song fades)

REDGE: Uh..Zinnia…

ZINNIA: Yes Reginald…

REDGE: Did it work? 

ZINNIA: I’m not sure, I’ve never seen it–

(Triumphant, radiant sound) 

JONATHAN: Just when they thought all hope was lost, the Radiant Root exploded with rainbow light! 

CROWD: Oooooh! Ahhhh! 

JONATHAN: Everyone began cheering as the magnificent light spread around the clearing. But it didn’t just shed this amazing light. Every piece of land it touched grew chairs and tables made from vines, all adorned with dazzling displays of flowers, twigs, and color changing leaves. As the light passed over the folks in attendance, their clothes transformed into colorful attire fit for a feast! They were adorned in rainbow suits and dresses and hats with more leaves curling from the brims. 

REDGE: Well don’t we look snazzy! 

ZINNIA: Come one and all! It’s time for our Feast of the Imagination! 

REDGE: HUZZAH! 

JONATHAN: Redge, what meal will be on your plate?  

REDGE: Oh I have so many favorites, I can’t wait to see! I am certain there will be Free Fallin’ Fruit Pie. That’s one recipe that’s been passed down in my family for ages. 

JONATHAN: Yum! 

REDGE: And what about you, Zinnia? 

ZINNIA: One of my favorite Hedge Witch recipes is rosemary bread, with rosemary freshly picked from my garden, a spot of cheese, and a sprinkle of honey from my bee hives. 

REDGE: That sounds delicious! 

ZINNIA: You should try it! As a thank you for helping me throw this marvelous party and congratulations on completing your first, very eventful day of hedge witch training.

REDGE: Oh I would LOVE to! 

ZINNIA: Come now Reginald, let's sit together! 

JONATHAN: And so, all of the Once Upon a Time residents laughed and ate, sang and shared stories late into the night, when the only light in the clearing that remained was the glowing of the leaves strewn on the tables and tucked into our hats. 

One by one, all of the guests returned home, still talking and laughing about the day's festivities. Redge whistled a happy tune as we waved to Zinnia Fig, who soared away on her spring onion broom, and the two of us walked home together. 

REDGE: What a magnificent day it was! Wasn’t it Jonathan? 

JONATHAN: The best! You were right, Redge.

REDGE: Of course I was! …Wait, about what? 

JONATHAN: This day will definitely go down in the Once Upon a Time history books. 

REDGE: Oh yes, I do hope so. I hope we all remember it forever. 

JONATHAN: And we did! We would always remember the Radiant Root and the great big song and dance that shook it out of the ground. We would remember Redge and Zinnia soaring overhead and calling out for help, gathering all of us under the sparkling light. We would remember how spiffy everyone looked in their rainbow clothes and fantastical hats. And most importantly, the stories we shared over our grand feast would stay in our hearts forever. 

The end. 

(The instrumental of the theme song)

So! There you have it! Our 100th story, and a fitting one I think… Thank you for listening and being such a big and beautiful part of our world. You, the listeners, make the most magical of magics happen, and we’re so grateful to be on this wild, wonderful adventure together. Here’s to the next 100 in the land of Once Upon a Time! 

JONATHAN CORMUR: This has been a Jonincharacter production. Today’s story was written and produced by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Hamilton Studios. Reach out to us on Instagram or email us at dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com. Find links in the show notes or go to dorktalesstorytime.com. Now, go be the hero of your own story and we’ll see you next once-upon-a-time!

THEME SONG: So gather your squad for all to see. It's a universe that we've imagined. There's twists and turns and lessons learned. This is where the unexpected happens. Join our humble hosts and hit the trails of the wonderful, wacky, wild world of Dorktales.

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